The three heroes steathfully pick their steps into a wide, vaulted sanctuary and through the center of ordered stone pews. Black candles burn green along the walls. At the far end, an altar and pulpit flank an imposing sculpture-- a meter-high, polished jet hand with the figure of an eye in its palm.
Roll Intelligence with Backgrounds that match occult or religious knowledge, normal check.
⬙(12) + INT (3) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (5) = 25
⬙(14) + INT (0) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (5) = 24
⬙(16) + INT (0) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (3) = 24
(turning to each other and whipsering simultaneously)
Vecna!
That's like... *evil* evil.
Could be worse...
Explain how?
I don't know. Give me minute.
Okay, well, stay quiet. We should find out what they're up to. And report back to Kevori and Lord Neverember.
Diana creeps over to the west side of the room to listen where a hallway trails into darkness. She motions back to Presto and Eric to "shush" and mimes that people are sleeping in that direction.
Presto and Eric advance to the east side, where the hallway maintains its eerie green light. They motion to Diana that it's clear.
Let's take a second to look around before any Vecna-neers wake up.
Diana searches around the sanctuary and altar, while Eric dips in and around the pews.
Presto takes a small alarm clock out of his hat and places it gently against the frame of the hallway leading to the sleeping sounds.
You are using your Arcane Heritage to use the Alarm cantrip. Okay.
Others, roll Wisdom with Backgrounds, normal check.
⬙(4) + WIS (1) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (3) = 13
⬙(9) + WIS (2) + Level (5) + Former spoiled rich kid (5) = 21
Anything?
Whoa! Look at this place!
An ominous library opens before them. Shelves, tables, boxes and sacks of all kinds and in all manners of condition line the walls and pepper the room. A square, sturdy table dominates the center of the room, inundated with parchments, notes, and various bottles and ingredients.
Hmm. No cult-mother to yell at them to clean their room, I see.
I see a bunch of charts and tables with times and dates. A lot of people's names, descriptions. Can you make heads or tails of these things?
Not at first glance.
Eric, roll Wisdom with Backgrounds for awareness, normal check.
Presto, roll Intelligence with Backgrounds in occult knowledge, desperate check.
⬙(3) + WIS (2) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (5) = 15
⬙(11) + INT (3) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (5) = 24
This is just too much. Maybe if I had more time...
Ugh. I'm already bored, and this place is too annoying to worry about.
Quiet! Do you guys hear something? It's coming from the next room.
Presto and Eric freeze. They can just make out someone chanting loudly, nearly indiscernable, in a roughly-carved space broken through the library's south wall.
The green light is even stronger down in there. Time to crack this cult.
Presto visibly gulps. He takes a large swath of the papers and stuffs them into his hat, where they disappear, and then hurries to catch up to Diana and Eric.
Roll Agility with Backgrounds if you want to be stealthy, normal check.
⬙(5) + AGL (4) + Level (5) + Former gymnastics protege (5) = 19
⬙(16) + AGL (3) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (5) = 29
⬙(7) + AGL (3) + Level (5) + Chosen champion of the Dungeonmaster (3) = 18
The passageway twists and winds, allowing a cavernous ritual chamber to slowly, incrementally, grow into view. The chanting grows ever more distinct, echoing and loud, yet remains a language incomprehensible.
Found 'em.
Below, at the end of a winding cave path, the bottom of the cavern displays a giant circle made of runes. Outside of it, a robed figure (human, older with oily hair and gaunt, grey skin) chants loudly, and two more cultists- one human, one elf- stand inside, swaying to the monotonous rythym, entranced.
Finally! And now, you must release your secrets unto me! Let the darkness hidden within your soul come forth to become True Power!
The cultists within the circle scream, collapsing to the floor, with dark shadows spilling upward from their eyes, mouths, and pores, like steam from a scathing pot. They coalesce into newly-created Shadow Demons, hovering over their former bodies, hissing.
Yes! YES! Surely your secrets were dark, indeed, to be such powerful shadows! And now... attack the interlopers!
(suddenly pointing upwards, toward the heroes)
Whoa!
(nudging Presto, whispering)
I think he saw you.
continued in 1.8 Ritual Chamber . . .